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Sushma to make a statement on Pakistan talks

Among others, they include: confidence-building measures; the Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen Glacier and Sir Creek territorial disputes; and economic and commercial cooperation.

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India will resume high-level talks with rival Pakistan, Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said on Wednesday, raising hopes that relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours may be thawing slightly.

“It was made a decision to continue the constructive engagement between Pakistan and India”.

Sushma Swaraj said that the multilateral conference provided “an important platform for friends of Afghanistan from its immediate and extended neighbourhood to promote political consultations and regional cooperation for a united, democratic, independent, strong and prosperous Afghanistan”.

During her visit to the nation, Swaraj also met PM Nawaz Sharif and his Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz. The conference also saw Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Sharif meet in a bid to revive the Taliban peace process.

The media in Pakistan and India has viewed the agreement on the revival of the Comprehensive Dialogue that will cover all outstanding issues as a major “breakthrough”.

Gupta added that looking at the recent events in the Gulf countries, the challenges of radicalism and emerging worldwide political scenario, it is in the interest of Pakistan to curb all types of terrorism.

A joint statement issued after the meeting of NSAs said the talks were held pursuant to a meeting between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the climate meet in Paris.

After the then external affairs minister SM Krishna’s visit in 2012, Swaraj’s visit is the first ministerial visit from India to Pakistan.

To his advantage here, while National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval is guiding the ground work deftly, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj is just the right person to provide the warmth that any success on the India-Pak dialogue front is required.

However, foreign policy analysts say that given the turbulent history of India-Pakistan ties – talks have been derailed by terror incidents or firing across the border – they would wait and see how the current initiative unfolds.

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Representatives of over two dozen countries are gathering in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad to seek joint efforts to bring peace to war-torn Afghanistan.

Pakistan's National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz  shakes hands with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj at Pakistan's foreign ministry in Islamabad